Manicure Travel Kit

ABSTRACT

A manicure travel kit having a nail polish remover towelette, an emery board, a cuticle stick, and a transparent nail polish container with applicator, all packaged within a skin wrap of Surlyn film clamshell or blister package, all placed into a carrier sleeve such that the nail polish color is revealed through a semi-circular cutout in the carrier sleeve.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Claim of Priority Based onCopending Application

claims benefit of provisional application No. 61/179,103

The present application is related to the co-pending provisional patentapplication No. 61/179,103, filed 18 May 2009, entitled “Manicure TravelKit”, and based on which priority is herewith claimed under 35 U.S.C.119(e) and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety as if fully rewritten herein.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The present invention relates generally to manicure kits andspecifically to compact kits that are suitable for travel. In oneembodiment, the kit is made up of nail polish remover towelettes, anemery board, a cuticle stick, and nail polish with applicator. Thesefour elements are the best choice to get a salon style manicure. Theyare packaged with a skin wrap or other suitable skin package material orinput into a clamshell or blister package and placed into a carriersleeve (a.k.a. carrier box). Each component of such a kit can supportthe others in the completion of a manicure.

DuPont (trademark) Surlyn (trademark), SUR-FLEX (trademark) IONOMER,blister packaging, or other similar products or packaging resins can beused to seal the contents. Packaging resins are typically used as a foodcontact or seal layer in flexible packaging. They are optimized forefficient blown film and extrusion coating and come in a wide variety ofproven grades, to meet specific packaging needs. In one embodiment ofthe invention, DuPont (trademark) Surlyn (trademark), is used.

In one embodiment, the kit includes an individual size portion ofpre-packaged nail polish remover solution on a felt, paper, cotton, orsimilar material pad. This solution-saturated towelette allows for theremoval of polish from fingernails and toenails. The emery board is anabrasive material used to shape and smooth nails natural or artificial.This kit also includes a cuticle stick made of wood, plastic (recycledor otherwise), or other suitable material used to push the cuticle backin preparation for polish. The single use or individual portion sizecontainer of nail polish can be made of plastic or other suitablematerial and may include an integrated or independent applicator brush.

Variations of the foregoing are possible. For instance, partial kits orindividual components can be used. Additionally, a variety of items mayalso be added or made available individually such as hand cream, cuticlecream, top or base coat, a buffer, nail brush, tweezers, and/or nailrepair items. A Mini-Pedicure kit incorporating disclosed features isalso possible and may include toe separators, foot cream, and a pumicestone for smoothing rough spots.

The disclosed components may also be made available in single unit sizesor multi-pack units containing all or parts of the various components.

Several travel manicure kits exist on the market today. However, thepresent invention is advantageous in terms of convenience, size,quantity, packaging, and combination of components. The presentinvention provides a convenient means to achieve a complete manicureanywhere. It can easily be carried in the purse or wallet. Portion sizesmake it permissible in the secured areas of airports. The convenientsize of the container makes it easy to transport in a small purse orcarry-on luggage. The size, configuration and quantity of the componentsthat make up the invention make it ideal for sale at convenience stores,convenience machines and at the check out lanes at the supermarket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of unassembled carrier sleeve 50

FIG. 2 depicts a plan view of package 60

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A manicure travel kit comprises a nail polish remover towelette 10,emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, transparent nail polish container 40with applicator 41, skin wrap of Surlyn film clamshell or blisterpackage 60, and carrier sleeve 50 having a semi-circular cutout 51.

Nail polish remover towelette 10 (e.g. Anti-bacterial, nail polishremover pads, non-acetone) includes a sealed package. Nail polishremover towelette 10, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparentnail polish container 40 with applicator 41 are all arranged on base 61which is sealed by a skin wrap, Surlyn film, clamshell, or blisterpackage; the combination forming package 60. In one embodiment, package60 comprises the components placed on base 61 (e.g. a piece ofpaperboard). A sheet of Surlyn (trademark) is placed over the componentsand paperboard. The paperboard has a heat seal coating. The Surlyn isheated and draped over the components on the board and Vacuum sealed.The Surlyn bonds to the heat seal coating on the paperboard to completethe seal.

It is to be understood that the arrangement of nail polish removertowelette 10, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparent nailpolish container 40 with applicator 41 may be arranged in various wayswithin package 60 in addition to the arrangement depicted in FIG. 2. Forinstance, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparent nail polishcontainer 40 with applicator 41 can be placed on top of towelette 10.

Carrier sleeve 50 is depicted in FIG. 1 unassembled. When assembled, tab52 is adhered to edge 53 such that surfaces 54 & 55 are parallel andspaced apart (so that cutouts 51 in each surface are aligned) byparallel surfaces 56 & 57.

Package 60 is inserted into assembled sleeve 50 so that nail polishcontainer 40 is aligned with cutouts 51. Thus, the nail polish color isrevealed through a semi-circular cutout 51 in the carrier sleeve 50.Cutout 51 has the added advantage of facilitating gripping package 60for removal from and insertion into sleeve 50.

The entire carrier sleeve 50 with package 60 inserted therein isdimensionally less than substantially 3.5 inches (edge 53) by 3 inchesby 0.5 inches. The quantities of nail polish and nail polish remover areless than substantially 3 ounces each.

1. A manicure travel kit comprising: a nail polish remover towelette, anemery board, a cuticle stick, and a transparent nail polish containerwith applicator, all packaged within a thin film, clamshell, or blisterpackage, all placed into a carrier sleeve such that the nail polishcolor is revealed through a semi-circular cutout in the carrier sleeve;the entire carrier sleeve with contents being dimensionally less thansubstantially 3.5 inches by 3 inches by 0.5 inches; wherein thequantities of nail polish and nail polish remover are less thansubstantially 3 ounces each.